The GEOINT 2011 Symposium (focused on promoting the geospatial intelligence tradecraft) kicked off with a pre-symposium on Sunday the 16th of October. Forums that explore the current state-of-the-art and future of wide area motion imagery (WAMI), full-motion video (FMV) platforms, and Mobile GEOINT Applications sessions inspired the day. Further, the “Future of GEOINT Professional Development” and Socio-Cultural Dynamics: “An Overview from a Diplomacy, Development, Defense and Intelligence Perspectives” rounded out the topical theme. However, it was the Six Flags Over Texas GEOINT 2011 Welcome Reception at Sunset Station that pumped up the party. Sponsored by Northrop Grumman, dozens of chartered busses transported conference attendees and sponsors to an outdoor venue with live music, Texas cuisine, and dancing. Off the bus, a mariachi band welcomed participants. Inside, one guitar player and other stringed music played Mexican style tunes. However, the headline band was Cactus Country, a cover band that played oldies, some rock, but mostly top chart country music. Line dancing with instruction ensued.
October 17, the Expo Hall opened at 11:00. Exhibits rage from giant organizations like Google, SAIC, Lockheed Martin, and Oracle to core geospatial organizations like Woolpert and Blue Marble Geographics. The term booth doesn’t fit this exhibit showcase. Some structures are two stories high, complete with a staircase to the 2nd floor. Huge video screens are on display with imagery that can be manipulated by touch. Large leather sofa’s and coffee tables allow participants to relax while taking in a demonstration. One vendor had a tall, beautiful, blond offering an authentic shoe shine atop an antique wooden shoe shine chair. Among the crowd walking the floor was the President of Continental Mapping Dave Hart. Brant Howard, founder of CompassCom and Hayden Howard, CompassData field services manager. Mark Safran Senior Manager at BAE, Joe Francica the Editor, Directions Magazine and Shawana Johnson of Global Marketing Insights.
This is the place to be to tap into the geospatial intelligence community of interest between government, industry, academic, and professional organizations. Cleared geospatial talent has always been in demand and GeoSearch has sourced that demographic for over a decade. The market demand for this group is increasing as fast as the technology is changing.
